Prior to getting into politics, President Donald Trump was an entertainment icon, appearing in dozens of movies and television shows.

Trump once again made waves in Hollywood this week when he signed an order regarding the movie industry. 

Trump imposes 100% tariff on foreign films

According to Breitbart, Trump declared in a Truth Social post on Sunday that "[t]he Movie Industry in America is DYING a very fast death."

"Other Countries are offering all sorts of incentives to draw our filmmakers and studios away from the United States. Hollywood, and many other areas within the U.S.A., are being devastated," he wrote.

"Other Countries are offering all sorts of incentives to draw our filmmakers and studios away from the United States. Hollywood, and many other areas within the U.S.A., are being devastated," Trump complained.

What's more, the president argued that the dominance of overseas films creates the potential for "messaging and propaganda" by foreign powers.

Trump went on to explain that he has instructed "the United States Trade Representative, to immediately begin the process of instituting a 100% Tariff on any and all Movies coming into our Country that are produced in Foreign Lands."

Trump slams Gavin Newsom for being "a grossly incompetent governor"

Deadline reported that Trump later defended the move this past weekend when speaking with reporters on the White House lawn.

"Hollywood is being destroyed. You have a grossly incompetent governor that allowed that to happen... Other nations have stolen our movie industry...We should have a tariff on movies that come in...That's sort of a threat to our country in a sense"

- Pres. Trump on movie tariffs pic.twitter.com/C8lm5zMbtf

— Howard Mortman (@HowardMortman) May 5, 2025

"I have done some very strong research over the last week, and we are making very few movies now," Trump said on Sunday evening.

"Hollywood is being destroyed," he asserted before taking a shot at California Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom, stating, "Now you have a grossly incompetent governor that allowed that to happen."

President points to subsidies offered by foreign governments

"If they are not willing to make a movie inside the United States, and we should have a tariff on movies that come in," Trump told the journalist.

Trump then alluded to the subsidies that foreign films benefit from, saying, "And not only that, governments are actually giving big money. They are supporting them financially."

The president then went on to predict that his tariff plan will be embraced as "a very popular thing" among filmmakers.